News: Free Radical goes next-gen with the help of Ubisoft

Free Radical has signed a deal with Ubisoft to produce an action game for next-generation systems and the PC. The completely new title (not based on Free Radical's existing franchises, TimeSplitters or Second Sight) will ship in Ubi's 2006-2007 fiscal year (sometime between April 2006 and March 2007 in real dates).

The unnamed title will "target mature gamers" and "it will feature difficult strategic choices and moral dilemmas, tapping into both their rational and emotional instincts."

"Ubisoft is looking forward to working closely with Free Radical, renowned for creating beautiful and engaging gameplay in epics such as the TimeSplitters series," said Virginie Gretz, director of third-party development for EMEA at Ubisoft. "With this game, we plan to take players to a new level of intensity and create an environment at once terrifying, enthralling and impossible to resist."

"We are delighted to benefit from Ubisoft's collaboration on this title and benefit from its strong experience developing and marketing powerful, innovative action titles," stated Steve Ellis, managing director of Free Radical Design.

No specific platforms have been confirmed, but all of Free Radical's offerings since TimeSplitters 2 have shipped for all consoles. Just food for thought.